B1.5bn Phuket cable car project given green light

PHUKET: The Phuket provincial committee of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), chaired by Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana, has approved in principle for a sightseeing cable car operating three kilometres long to be built in Phuket.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Phuket NESDC committee yesterday (Dec 25).

Also present at the meeting was Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan, along with relevant officers and representatives of private companies interested or involved in the project.

Archawin Sitaputra, President of JH Cable Car Thailand Co Ltd, presented the project to the meeting in order to ask for support.

He got it. The committee approved for his company to move ahead with an environmental-impact assessment study and to hold public meetings to gain feedback from local residents.

Mr Atchawin explained that the current estimated budget for construction of the cable car system was about B1.5 billion.

“The cable car system will be around 82 meters high from the ground and three kilometers long,” Mr Atchawin said, adding that the cable car route will include three stations.

Other than that, Mr Atchawin was reticent to reveal any more details.

“Construction will be controlled by a French company, which is expert in building cable car systems,” he said, declining to name the French company.

“We are sure that Phuket cable car will be popular among tourists with beautiful views of the island. The cable car will be an interesting landmark in Phuket, aside from natural attractions,” he added.

However, Mr Atchawin also declined to reveal the proposed location of where the cable car is to be built and operated.

“We need to conduct an EIA first. Then we will be sure about the project location,” he said.

Mr Atchawin added that his company also had yet to hold public meetings to gain feedback and opinions on building the cable car system.

“These public meetings are expected be held sometime in January,” he said.

“Our company has already planned the location of the cable car stations and pylons, but at this stage we cannot reveal any more about that. We have to finish our research and obtain public feedback first, but we will make sure that the view from cable car will be good,” Mr Atchawin explained.

* The NESDC for years has been known by its former name, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). The formal change of its name will be recognised on Feb 1, 2020. (Se website here.)

Jor12, foreign firms have to build this sky dreaming projects. A builder/constructor can always be international dragged to court if there is something what makes the whole thing sniffy, causing foreign people loosing their lives.. Try to think more international! Thailand, as a sovereign state, would just try to duck down. But can't in such matter. Learn a bit.

You allege that " installation is not build and safety certified by foreign organisations". Tyres are manufactured to certain specifications therefore according to your logic, insurance will not pay out. If you are engaged in dangerous sports and covered, there is no valid legal reason for non payment by the Insurer, save for clauses detailing reasons for non payment.

@Jor12, All wrong examples you bring up. When a car tire burst, and driver of that car loose control, hitting me, I am always covered. And Thailands sovereign status has nothing to do with policies of foreign insurances of foreigners. That is between insurance company and her client.

@Jor12. No! It doesn't mean that! Complete different off the rail matter. It means when you do voluntarily 'dangerous' sports, activities, your normal insurance can exclude it. Like skying, bungee jumping, a thai cable car ride. That is what it means. You have to insure you with a extra insurance.

What has all those mentioning of" air-conditioned electric buses, water pipeline,investing on infrastructure,rubbish collection,beach cleaning etc."to do with this project ? JH Cable car and other private companies are paying for it.Government only needs to approve it and if they do can profit from it.

@k...best check with your insurer. So it means if a tyre bursts and the driver loses control killing you, you won't be covered? No such thing as International control as Thailand is a sovereign state. The operators of the bungee jump of the Phuket deaths were completely legal, not illegal as you state, as were the bungee jumping deaths in NZ.

I am almost sure that my life insurance company will not pay a single dime when I die during a ride in a Phuket cable car if the installation is not build and safety certified by foreign organisations. And kept under international safety control! Remember that Bungee Jumping disaster on Phuket? Was complete illegal, No safety certifications, et., etc. We never heard of it anymore.

Get for that money a water pipeline from Phang Nga Province to Phuket first. Has the Governor forgotten that Phuket is in a water crisis? What is he doing about that to stop it instead of joining all kind of 'pie in the sky as things stand'.

Thai Officials become more and more bold and forwarding in their requests for juicy 'budgets'. Even when there is not anything more, or substantial, than just 'thinking' and/or 'fantasy'. The whole article is full of...We don't know yet/we don't tell you... from the side of the budget requesters. I think I also go soon ask a budget for a 'future plan thinking&...

They do not know operating cost, ridership numbers, ticket income, or, even where it will be built. Mr Atchawin did explained "...Our company has already planned the loca-tion of the cable car stations and pylons, ... but we will make sure the view will be good..." How about around the Big Buddha? What could possibly go wrong?

Don't know where it will be built, no budget for operating costs, ticket income, or ridership numbers. 3km would circle Big Buddha! "...Our company has already planned the location of the cable car stations and pylons, ... but we will make sure that the view from cable car will be good..." Mr Atchawin explained. What could possibly go wrong?

No no no no no...... please no! Phuket needs money spent on infrastructure: water, sewage, rubbish collection, public transport (not private “taxis”, beach cleaning etc etc, not ridiculous vanity projects like this. Do the authorities really not understand this??

B1.5bn Phuket cable car project given green light

B1.5bn Phuket cable car project given green light

Comment on this story

Phuket community